Loss of auditory function in microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm. Results in 143 consecutive cases

Auditory function was studied before and after surgery in 143 consecutive patients who were operated on for hemifacial spasm by microvascular decompression of the intracranial portion of the facial nerve. The acoustic middle ear reflex was abnormal preoperatively in 41% of the patients, indicating that the vascular abnormalities that caused the hemifacial spasm also affected the auditory nerve. Three patients suffered a profound hearing loss in the ear on the operated side, and one lost hearing function totally. In addition, 24 patients had a moderate elevation in the pure-tone threshold at one or more octave frequencies. Of these, 16 patients experienced a hearing loss at only one frequency (8000 Hz), while eight had a threshold evaluation of no more than 20 dB in the speech frequency range (500, 1000, and 2000 Hz). Two patients were deaf on the side of the spasm before the operation. Three patients were not tested postoperatively, and one patient was tested only after surgery. Thus, in this series of 143 patients, only 2.8% suffered a significant hearing loss as a complication of facial nerve decompression to relieve hemifacial spasm.